2018 Jaguar XE S gets 280kW tune, new 147kW-184kW 2.0L added

The MY2018 Jaguar XE has been announced, introducing some new four-cylinder Ingenium engine options as well as bumping up the power for the flagship XE S variant.

Starting with the flagship, the XE S continues with a 3.0-litre supercharged V6. Only now it churns out 280kW and 450Nm instead of the previous 250kW/450Nm tune. This helps to see 0-100km/h cut from 5.1 seconds to 5.0 seconds, while the average fuel consumption is unchanged, at 8.1L/100km.

At this power level it is able to overtake the Mercedes-AMG C 43 and its 270kW V6, as well as the BMW 340i with its 240kW straight six. It doesn’t quite catch the new Infiniti Q50 Red Sport for power though, and its 298kW 3.0-litre twin-turbo V6.

As for the rest of the MY18 range, Jaguar is presenting four engine choices in total (including the 280kW XE S), with a new Ingenium 2.0-litre turbo-petrol generating 147kW and 320Nm (up from 147kW/280Nm in the outgoing ’20t’), or 184kW and 365Nm (up from 177kW/340Nm in the outgoing ’25t’). The respective 0-100km/h sprint times are 7.1 seconds and 6.3 seconds.

Starting out the range is the 2.0-litre turbo-diesel, generating 132kW and 430Nm. The new engine (currently available in MY17) is able to propel the mid-size sedan from 0-100km/h in a respectable 7.8 seconds, while offering an official fuel consumption average of just 4.2L/100km. All come with an eight-speed auto and rear-wheel drive.

In terms of other MY18 changes, Jaguar is introducing Gesture Boot Lid control allowing owners to open the boot simply by waving their foot under the rear bumper (with key on person). A 12.3-inch TFT digital instrument cluster is also available as an option, along with Touch Pro infotainment with dual-view technology.

For the sportier drivers, Adaptive Dynamics is introduced for the new 147kW and 184kW engines, continuing with the entry 132kW and flagship XE S. This system provides adjustable suspension and driving modes.

Prices for the 2018 range are yet to be announced, but orders are taken now with production commencing in April.

Brett is the editor and founder of PerformanceDrive. He's obsessed with driving, having played with Matchbox cars until he was tall enough to drive a real one. After initially working as a mechanic, Brett earned a degree in journalism and entered media as an editorial assistant at Top Gear Australia magazine. He then worked at CarAdvice.com.au. His dream is to live next door to the Nurburgring in Germany.